Electrical terminal and connection



y 1965 H. G. BURKERT ELECTRICAL TERMINAL AND CONNECTION Filed Feb. 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HERBERT G. BURKERT ATTORNEY May 11, 1965 H. G. BURKERT 3, 7

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL AND CONNECTION Filed Feb. 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

INVENTOR HERBERT mmaam ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,183,471 ELECTRICAL TERMINAL AND CONNECTION Herbert G. Burkert, South Plainfield, N.J., assignor to The Thomas & Betts Co., a corporation of New liersey Filed Feb. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 257,333 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-95) This invention relates to an electric terminal of novel structural features, adapted to be secured to a conductor and to define the female terminal end thereof for electrical connection with a male tab secured to another conductor or forming part of a device with which the first mentioned conductor is to be electrically connected.

This invention also relates to a novel electrical connection utilizing a specific male and female terminal as more fully described below.

An object of the present invention is to provide a female terminal end for an electrical conductor that is formed of flexible sheet metal in the form of a channel having opposed paired flange portions and sharp projections depending from the corners thereof to receive a male tab terminal of straight, tapered or other configuration which will automatically adapt itself to the contours of the male tab and which may be economically manufactured from blanks of conducting material and is highly eflicient and durable in use.

The drawings, illustrating procedures and devices use ful in carrying out the invention, and the description below, are exemplary only of the invention, which shall be deemed to cover all other devices and procedures coming within the scope and purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, partly fragmentary, view of an electric terminal embodying the invention, shown secured to a conductor, and a male tab, in position for insertion into the terminal,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the parts partially assembled,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are similar, fragmentary, top plan views, showing the male tab further inserted into terminal 10,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a blank wherein terminals of this invention are shown being formed,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken at line 66 of FIG. 3, of the parts assembled,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of a terminal embodying the invention,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional View thereof, taken at line 88 of FIG. 7, showing a male tab initially inserted into the terminal, and

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the terminal, taken at line 99 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the drawings, the electric terminal 1%} of this invention is preferably formed of conducting material such as spring metal, as from blank 37 in a manufacturing procedure illustrated in FIG. 5, or in any other manufacturing procedure suitable for manufacture of the terminal 10 pursuant to the description below, to define an elongated base portion 11 (FIGS. 5 and 9) having parallel marginal edges 12, 13; two or more marginal flanges 14, and 16 (FIG. 2) extend along marginal edge 12 and are angularly directed upwardly of the base, two or more marginal flanges 17, 18 and 19 extending along the other marginal edge, 13 in line with the base (FIG. 1). Said marginal flanges 14-19 are angularly directed upwardly of the base and then directed inwardly to define portions 14', 15, 16', 17', 18', 19' of the flanges 14-19, respectively, disposed in spaced, overlying relation to the base. Each marginal flange defines, with the base, a C-shaped channel, flexible, with the flange at the opposite marginal edge of the base, outwardly on insertion of the male tab 20 into the terminal 10 through the free end 2]. of said terminal (FIG. 9) and returning inwardly to grip the male tab and maintain the same in the terminal under tension. The end 22 of the base portion 11 opposite the free end 21 thereof is preferably formed as at 23 (FIG. 5 to define an upwardly opening channel to receive the conductor 24 and is then closed and crimped about said conductor to securely hold the terminal thereon in conventional manner. A circumferential head 25 (FIG. 2) may be formed in said end 23 of the base to serve as a stop or registration member for tools which may be used in connection with the invention.

The marginal flanges along the respective marginal edges 12, 13, are preferably disposed in aligned relation and so proportioned that, when formed as above described, the inwardly directed free edges 26, 27 thereof will be spaced apart as shown in FIG. 3 to permit flexing of the marginal flanges for the purposes described herein.

The inner corners 28, 29 (FIG. 4) of said overlying flanges 14'19' are preferably directed downwardly toward the base; the male tab may be inserted under pressure sufficient to dispose it between a single set of opposed marginal flanges (FIG. 2) or to the second set (FIG. 3) or :to the third set (FIG. 4).

The downwardly directed portions of the marginal flanges cut and scrape the male tab 20 and increase the frictional resistance of the flanges to insertion of the tab, reducing vibration, interlocking the parts, and (by cutting through any films formed on the parts) enhancing tab-terminal electrical connection. An elongated rib 35 (FIGS. 1, 6-9) is formed on the base and directed toward the inwardly directed portions of the marginal flanges and defines a rail (FIG. 8) for registering the male tab on insertion intermediate the rail and the marginal flanges. The rail extends outwardly and downwardly of the base at the free end 21 thereof as noted at 36 (FIG. 8) to further facilitate smooth insertion of the tab 26. One or more aligned sets of marginal flanges may be spaced apart a greater distance than the next (FIG. 7) and sets of marginally aligned flanges may be spaced apart progressively diflerent distances for reception of a tapered male tab 29 therein (FIG. 7). The terminal 1% may be formed (FIG. 5) from a blank preferably of metal defining an elongated strip 37 to which said base portions 11 of the terminals may be connected by tabs 38 and may be severed therefrom as along the lines 39.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical connection comprising a female electric terminal formed of flexible resilient material and an elongated tapered male tab terminal connected to a first conductor, said female terminal comprising an elongated base portion having marginal edges, means at one end of said base portion adapted to be crimped to a second conductor, a plurality of spaced apart marginal flanges on each of said marginal edges, said marginal flanges extending upwardly of the base portion and having portions then directed inwardly so as to be disposed in spaced overlying relation to the base, each of said marginal flanges on one marginal edge composing a pair with a companion marg nal flange on the other marginal edge, the marginal flanges defining with the base portion a channel for reception of said tapered male tab terminal, each of said flanges being resiliently and independently flexible upwardly of the base and outwardly of their respective companion flanges upon insertion of the said male tab terminal therewithin, the inner corner of the overlying portion of each flange nearest the said one end being turned downwardly to define a sharp tabengaging projection, and an elongated rib formed on the 3 base and directed toward the overlying flange portions and defining a rail maintaining the male tab terminal spaced from said base portion and in engagement with said tab-engaging projections, edges of said tapered male tab terminal'being in engagement with each of said marginal flanges. V

2. A female electric terminal formed of resilient flexible material for the reception of an elongated tapered male tab terminal attached to a first conductor, said female terminal comprising, an elongated base portion having marginal edges, means at one end of said base portion adapted to be crimped to a second conductor, a plurality of spaced apart marginal flanges on each of said marginal edges, said marginal flanges extending upwardly of the base portion and having portions then directed inwardly so as to be disposed in spaced overlying relation to the base, each of said marginal flanges on one marginal edge comprising a pair with a companion marginal flange on the other marginal edge,-the distance between the marginal flanges in each pair increasing successively from said one end to the other end of the base portion to conform to the taper of the said male tab terminal adapted to be received therebetween, the marginal flanges defining with the base portion a channel adapted for reception of said tapered male tab terminal, each of said flanges. being resiliently and independently flexible upwardly of the base and outwardly of their respective companion flanges upon insertion of the said male tab terminal therewithin, the inner corner of the overlying portion of each flange nearest the said one end being turned downwardly to define a sharp tab-engaging projection, and an elongated rib formed on the base and directed toward the overlying flange portions and defining a rail for maintaining the male tab terminal spaced from the base portion upon in sertion and in engagement with said tab-engaging projections, the marginal flanges each being adapted to engage edges of said tapered male tab terminal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,157,188 5/39 Robinson 339-256 2,694,188 11/54 Poupitch 33995 2,774,952 12/56 Batcheller 3397258 2,816,275 12/57 Hammell 339-273 2,921,287 1/ Matthysse et a1 339-258 2,987,697 6/61 Davis 339-258 3,030,603 4/62 Olsson 339273 X 3,086,193 4/63 Berg 339-258 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,191 8/09 France.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. 

2. A FEMALE ELECTRIC TERMINAL FORMED OF RESILIENT FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FOR THE RECEPTION OF AN ELONGATED TAPERED MALE TAP TERMINAL ATTACHED TO A FIRST CONDUCTOR, SAID FEMALE TERMINAL COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED BASE PORTION HAVING MARGINAL EDGES, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID BASE PORTION ADAPTED TO BE CRIMPED TO A SECOND CONDUCTOR, A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART MARGINAL FLANGES ON EACH OF SAID MARGINAL EDGES, SAID MARGINAL FLANGES EXTENDING UPWARDLY OF THE BASE PORTION AND HAVING PORTIONS THEN DIRECTED INWARDLY SO AS TO BE DISPOSED IN SPACED OVERLYING RELATION TO THE BASE, EACH OF SAID MARGINAL FLANGES ON ONE MARGINAL EDGE COMPRISING A PAIR WITH A COMPANION MARGINAL FLANGE ON THE OTHER MARGINAL EDGE, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE MARGINAL FLANGES IN EACH PAIR INCREASING SUCCESSIVELY FROM SAID ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF THE BASE PORTION TO CONFORM TO THE TAPER OF THE SAID MALE TAB TERMINAL ADAPTED 